Re: Network Manager, misbehaves

2007-02-13 Thread Darren Albers
On 2/12/07, Patton Echols <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I have two issues with Network Manager that I think are related, but
> perhaps not.
>
> Note: Using Ubuntu Edgy
>
> First, I have the Network Monitor applet showing that I have a
> connection, as of now, connection strength is at 86%. At the same time
> Network Manager (0.6.3) shows connection strength at 52%. (25'
> unobstructed line of sight)  I understand this is a known issue with
> Atheros chipset cards.  And I saw at one point a fix.  The problem is
> that the fix required hacking some element of the NM source and
> recompiling.  While I'd be willing to give such a fix a try, the entire
> discussion assumed at least some modicum of programing ability.  I'm
> willing to learn, but that's not me.  The other issue is that I
> understand the fix would then "break" the ability to have Ubuntu
> auto-majically update when necessary.  I'm not sure that's a good idea.
>

Unfortunately the problem is that the Madwifi driver reports their
signal strength differently, Robert Love posted a patch for this and I
posted the patch on Launchpad for this hoping to get the patch
integrated into Fiesty.  The bug is at
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager/+bug/69709
if you want to add a "Me Too"

I can see about creating new packages with the patch this weekend and
posting them if you are not comfortable with rebuilding the package
but it really is VERY easy.

I know that Dan has said that Network Manager is not affected by the
reported signal strength (and he certainly knows more about NM than I
do) but until I applied that patch my Atheros card was VERY flaky.
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Re: Network Manager, misbehaves

2007-02-12 Thread Patton Echols
On 02/12/2007 06:59 PM, Dan Williams wrote:
> On Mon, 2007-02-12 at 18:42 -0800, Patton Echols wrote:
>   
>> I have two issues with Network Manager that I think are related, but 
>> perhaps not. 
>>
>> Note: Using Ubuntu Edgy

>> Also, anyone have any ideas about why NM drops the connection 
>> periodically?  Especially if it is  not about signal strength?
>> 
>
> Run 'iwevent' and see if the driver is sending IWAP events with a BSSID
> of 00:00:00:00:00:00 when you get disconnected.  If so, that's a driver
> problem.  Logs would also help here, they are dumped to the normal
> syslog location, usually /var/log/messages.
>
> Dan
>
>   
Thanks for your help.  I'm posting back to the lists in case these are 
of interest to others.  I started iwevent before giving NM a the key for 
home wpa.  Also attached is the contents of /var/log/messages from the 
last boot.  It's quite lengthy, but I included it all since I really 
don't know what it all means.

Here is the output of iwevent:

[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~$ iwevent
Waiting for Wireless Events from interfaces...
19:57:15.499168   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
19:57:15.559925   ath0 Set ESSID:"Echo1"
19:57:15.636517   ath0 New Access Point/Cell address:00:0F:B5:69:5D:24
19:57:15.671114   ath0 Custom driver 
event:MLME-MICHAELMICFAILURE.indication(keyid=4 unicast 
addr=00:05:4e:50:a9:0f)
20:01:20.503306   ath0 Scan request completed
20:06:31.186724   ath0 Scan request completed
20:09:48.003526   ath0 New Access Point/Cell address:Not-Associated
20:09:48.106943   ath0 Set ESSID:off/any
20:09:57.037356   ath0 Set ESSID:""
20:09:59.039589   ath0 Set Encryption key:off
20:09:59.039816   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:10:00.064758   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:10:00.079356   ath0 Set ESSID:"Echo1"
20:10:00.099247   ath0 New Access Point/Cell address:00:0F:B5:69:5D:24
20:14:39.594215   ath0 New Access Point/Cell address:Not-Associated
20:14:39.695878   ath0 Set ESSID:off/any
20:14:48.614065   ath0 Set ESSID:""
20:14:50.608515   ath0 Set Encryption key:off
20:14:50.608763   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:14:51.632866   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:14:51.653501   ath0 Set ESSID:"Echo1"
20:14:51.672535   ath0 New Access Point/Cell address:00:0F:B5:69:5D:24
20:20:01.076088   ath0 Scan request completed
20:22:57.911874   ath0 New Access Point/Cell address:Not-Associated
20:22:58.014394   ath0 Set ESSID:off/any
20:23:06.944491   ath0 Set ESSID:""
20:23:08.947044   ath0 Set Encryption key:off
20:23:08.947271   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:23:09.971949   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:23:09.991090   ath0 Set ESSID:"Echo1"
20:23:10.011054   ath0 New Access Point/Cell address:00:0F:B5:69:5D:24
20:24:56.351613   ath0 New Access Point/Cell address:Not-Associated
20:24:56.452847   ath0 Set ESSID:off/any
20:25:05.371048   ath0 Set ESSID:""
20:25:07.366159   ath0 Set Encryption key:off
20:25:07.366395   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:25:08.402876   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:25:08.428584   ath0 Set ESSID:""
20:25:10.429689   ath0 Set Encryption key:off
20:25:10.429921   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:25:39.727089   ath0 Set ESSID:""
20:25:41.729064   ath0 Set Encryption key:off
20:25:41.729296   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:25:42.768664   ath0 Set Mode:Managed
20:25:42.787454   ath0 Set ESSID:"Echo1"
20:25:42.809215   ath0 New Access Point/Cell address:00:0F:B5:69:5D:24

Here is the contents of /var/log//messages from boot time:

Feb 12 19:51:48 Mycroft syslogd 1.4.1#18ubuntu6: restart.
Feb 12 19:51:48 Mycroft kernel: Inspecting 
/boot/System.map-2.6.17-11-generic
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: Loaded 22866 symbols from 
/boot/System.map-2.6.17-11-generic.
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: Symbols match kernel version 2.6.17.
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: No module symbols loaded - kernel 
modules not enabled.
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: [17179569.184000] Linux version 
2.6.17-11-generic ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) (gcc version 4.1.2 20060928 
(prerelease) (Ubuntu 4.1.1-13ubuntu5)) #2 SMP Thu Feb 1 19:52:28 UTC 
2007 (Ubuntu 2.6.17-11.35-generic)
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: [17179569.184000] BIOS-provided physical 
RAM map:
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: [17179569.184000]  BIOS-e820: 
 - 0009f000 (usable)
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: [17179569.184000]  BIOS-e820: 
0009f000 - 000a (reserved)
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: [17179569.184000]  BIOS-e820: 
000dc000 - 0010 (reserved)
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: [17179569.184000]  BIOS-e820: 
0010 - 2ff6 (usable)
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: [17179569.184000]  BIOS-e820: 
2ff6 - 2ff78000 (ACPI data)
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: [17179569.184000]  BIOS-e820: 
2ff78000 - 2ff7a000 (ACPI NVS)
Feb 12 19:51:49 Mycroft kernel: [17179569.184000]  BIOS-e820: 
2ff8 - 00

Re: Network Manager, misbehaves

2007-02-12 Thread Dan Williams
On Mon, 2007-02-12 at 18:42 -0800, Patton Echols wrote:
> I have two issues with Network Manager that I think are related, but 
> perhaps not. 
> 
> Note: Using Ubuntu Edgy
> 
> First, I have the Network Monitor applet showing that I have a 
> connection, as of now, connection strength is at 86%. At the same time 
> Network Manager (0.6.3) shows connection strength at 52%. (25' 
> unobstructed line of sight)  I understand this is a known issue with 
> Atheros chipset cards.  And I saw at one point a fix.  The problem is 
> that the fix required hacking some element of the NM source and 
> recompiling.  While I'd be willing to give such a fix a try, the entire 
> discussion assumed at least some modicum of programing ability.  I'm 
> willing to learn, but that's not me.  The other issue is that I 
> understand the fix would then "break" the ability to have Ubuntu 
> auto-majically update when necessary.  I'm not sure that's a good idea.
> 
> Second problem: My wifi connection will periodically drop connection. 
> This will happen both on my office WIFI or at Home, Both APs are 
> configured for WPA personal. The router / DHCP server at work is 
> configured for 1 day lease times, so I doubt that is the issue.  It will 
> also happen more often when I move to a location, office or home, that 
> has a lower signal strength. 
> 
> It has also happened on Open WIFI.  For example (and this was really 
> frustrating) I was at a hotel at a business conference. There was paid 
> wifi in the rooms and free in the lobby.  So naturally, I went to the 
> lobby, where NM could "see" both the "GuestRm" ESSID and the "Lobby" 
> ESSID.  NM showed about 35% signal strength for the former and <20% for 
> the latter. (Even though I was sitting in the lobby.)  I could force a 
> connection to "Lobby", but would promptly (2-3 minutes) be dropped, and 
> NM would try to access the pay service.  One more data point:  Since I 
> had work that had to be done, I rebooted into XP, forced the "Lobby" 
> connection, and windows was able to stay connected.
> 
> So, if this signal strength discrepancy issue is the culprit, then I'd 
> like to fix it.  But, If the signal strength that NM reports has no 
> effect on NM's functioning, then I suppose I don't care.  Does anyone know?

Signal strength has no effect on NM's function precisely because every
driver used to report it differently.  We harmonized most of the other
drivers, but madwifi still reports oddly.  I don't know if that's
because their not following my interpretation of the WEXT spec or what,
since the WEXT spec is so muddled there.

> Also, anyone have any ideas about why NM drops the connection 
> periodically?  Especially if it is  not about signal strength?

Run 'iwevent' and see if the driver is sending IWAP events with a BSSID
of 00:00:00:00:00:00 when you get disconnected.  If so, that's a driver
problem.  Logs would also help here, they are dumped to the normal
syslog location, usually /var/log/messages.

Dan


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Network Manager, misbehaves

2007-02-12 Thread Patton Echols
I have two issues with Network Manager that I think are related, but 
perhaps not. 

Note: Using Ubuntu Edgy

First, I have the Network Monitor applet showing that I have a 
connection, as of now, connection strength is at 86%. At the same time 
Network Manager (0.6.3) shows connection strength at 52%. (25' 
unobstructed line of sight)  I understand this is a known issue with 
Atheros chipset cards.  And I saw at one point a fix.  The problem is 
that the fix required hacking some element of the NM source and 
recompiling.  While I'd be willing to give such a fix a try, the entire 
discussion assumed at least some modicum of programing ability.  I'm 
willing to learn, but that's not me.  The other issue is that I 
understand the fix would then "break" the ability to have Ubuntu 
auto-majically update when necessary.  I'm not sure that's a good idea.

Second problem: My wifi connection will periodically drop connection. 
This will happen both on my office WIFI or at Home, Both APs are 
configured for WPA personal. The router / DHCP server at work is 
configured for 1 day lease times, so I doubt that is the issue.  It will 
also happen more often when I move to a location, office or home, that 
has a lower signal strength. 

It has also happened on Open WIFI.  For example (and this was really 
frustrating) I was at a hotel at a business conference. There was paid 
wifi in the rooms and free in the lobby.  So naturally, I went to the 
lobby, where NM could "see" both the "GuestRm" ESSID and the "Lobby" 
ESSID.  NM showed about 35% signal strength for the former and <20% for 
the latter. (Even though I was sitting in the lobby.)  I could force a 
connection to "Lobby", but would promptly (2-3 minutes) be dropped, and 
NM would try to access the pay service.  One more data point:  Since I 
had work that had to be done, I rebooted into XP, forced the "Lobby" 
connection, and windows was able to stay connected.

So, if this signal strength discrepancy issue is the culprit, then I'd 
like to fix it.  But, If the signal strength that NM reports has no 
effect on NM's functioning, then I suppose I don't care.  Does anyone know?

Also, anyone have any ideas about why NM drops the connection 
periodically?  Especially if it is  not about signal strength?

Thanks,

Patton
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